Huawei struggles to build a robust app ecosystem for HarmonyOS

In China, HarmonyOS, developed by Huawei, has been encountering numerous difficulties regarding app development, particularly in regards to WeChat's functionality. Despite being a major player in the technological landscape, the transition to this new operating system has proven complex for many developers. The lack of adequate documentation for the underlying technology, combined with key system features like file access and multi-tasking still being under development, creates hurdles for app integration. As developers like Tencent grapple with these problems, the cost of development has increased significantly due to the need for additional R&D teams to support HarmonyOS along with existing platforms like Android and iOS. The road to building a resilient and diverse app ecosystem on HarmonyOS is fraught with challenges, as major companies like Tencent, Alibaba, and Bytedance have taken over a year to adapt their ‘super apps’. For smaller developers, the situation is even more challenging, as the shift to HarmonyOS could require significant increases in operational costs, estimated at 30%-50%. Consequently, Huawei must balance the need for speed in development against the desire for long-term stability, especially when poor implementation could lead to reputational damage. Moreover, the strategic push for HarmonyOS aligns with China’s broader objective of enhancing technological autonomy. This transition becomes increasingly critical as Huawei navigates through the competitive landscape, particularly with the pressure of having to justify substantial engineering investments without a large user base to validate these efforts. There is an urgent need for Huawei to refine developer tools, stabilize functionalities, and enhance API support to encourage a vibrant app development environment. Without these improvements, achieving a wide-ranging application ecosystem will remain a daunting task. The success of HarmonyOS in meeting broader national technological goals will heavily depend on addressing these issues systematically and thoughtfully, ensuring that the developer community feels supported while meeting user needs effectively.